Means for disposing of dredgings.



' Patented Nov. 28, |899. `A. G. ROSE. MEA'NS FOB DISPDSING 0FDBEDGINGS.

(Application led Aug. 26 1899.)

3 Shoots-Shoot l.

(N0 Modal.)

, No. 637,947. Patented Nov. 28, |899. A. G. ROSE.

MEANS F08 DISPOSlNG 0F DREDGINGS.

(Application tiled (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ARTHUR GRANT ROsE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR DISPOSING OF DREDGINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,947, dated November28, 1899. I Application filed August 26, 1899. Serial No. 728,607. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GRANT Rosn, of New York, in the county of NewYork, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Meansfor Disposing of Dred gings, of which the following is a completespecification7 reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce means for raisin g,transporting, and disposing of the material taken up by adredging-machine without jeopardizing the health of workmen employed inthe operation or contaminating the atmosphere of the vicinity in whichthe dredging operation is conducted.

In certain localities, particularly harbors in the subtropical andtropical regions of the globe, the bottoms of the dredging-ma` chinesbecome very foul, and dredging operations, particularly at certainseasons of the year, cannot be carried on, Owing to the imminent risksto which the workmen are ex posed and the danger of contaminating theatmosphere and spreading disease. By the use of cutting and suctiondredges the water is so slightly disturbed as not to be polluted by thestirring up of the bed, but the air becomes contaminated by the risingto the surface Iand exposure to the air of the dredgings raised by themachine. By my invention this danger is entirely obviated by excludingthe dredgngs from exposure to the atmosphere and by disinfecting andpurifying all `foul air and gases that rise or are driven off from thedredgings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure Iis a top view of a portion of mydredging-scow, the roof being broken away to illustrate the interiorconstruction and arrangement of the parts. Fig. II is a transversevertical section of the same complete, taken on the line II II of Fig.I, showing the roof of the scow complete and also in side elevation aportion of a dredgingmachine operatively connected with the scow. Inthis figure one section of the roof is illustrated in dotted lines asraised. The trap or dumping doors in the bottom of the scow are alsoshown in dotted lines as open, they being illustrated in full lines asclosed. Fig. III is a plan View of a portion of the scow, taken near theopposite end from that shown in Fig. I and designed to illustrate thefan or blower which communicates with the disinfecting apparatus carrieduponv the deck 5 of the scow by air-tight joints and at the bottom, asindica-ted at G, with vertical walls 7, that extend and are closelyunited to the bottom of the hull of the scow. Theydeiine within the hullabout the hopper an airtight compartment that aords requisite buoyancyto the scow. The Walls 7 are substantially coextensive with thedimensions of the hopper and are designed to accommodate downwardly-swinging trap-doors 10, arranged in longitudinal succession along the bottomof the hopper and pivoted, respectively, as indicated at 1l, to thebottom plates 3 thereof. They close against a medial rib 12, consisting,preferably, of an angular' steel plate extending from one end of thehopper to the other. They are designed to be actuated in pairs, as by achain 14 working over a pulley 15, carried in a beam 16, extending overthe top ofV the scow and supported at its opposite ends upon the deckthereof, as upon uprights, (indicated by dotted lines 17 in Fig. II ofthe drawings.) Pulleys, with their respective chains, corresponding tothe pulley 15 and `chain 14, are arranged at frequent intervals alongthe beam 16 in positions to correspond with the several pairs of doors10 above referred to. These chains may be operated upon their pulleys byany suitable means for opening and closing the doors as occasion mayrequire.

Above the hopper are provided at` frequent intervals a succession ofroof-sections 18. They are hinged, respectively, as indicated at 19, toside plates 20, which forming airtight joints with the deck 5 surroundthe hopper at a little distance from the side walls 2 IOO thereof. Theside walls 2 project above the deck 5, so that upon each side of thehopper the plates 2O and the upward extensions of the walls 2 constitutelateral troughs on the outside of the hopper. The end sections 21 of theplates 2O are of suitable shape to conform with the shape of theroof-sections 18 and are adapted to form therewith air-tight joints whenthe roof-sections are closed. The troughs above described, betweenextensions of the walls 2 and plates 2O above the deck, are designed toafford receptacles for the overiiow of water from the hopper. They arefor that reason provided at suitable intervals with pipes 22, whichleading around the outside of the hopper are united by air-tight jointsto that portion of the bottom of the deck 5 that constitutes the bottomof the troughs, respectively, and at their opposite ends preferably withthe vertical walls 7.

The sections 18 are provided with suitable means for closing them overthe top by airtight joints wherever possibility of leakage is presented.Their free ends rest against beams 23, extending from end to end of thehopper, being supported in the end walls 21 above referred to. Anysuitable means for making air-tight joints may be employed and theyshould also be provided with suitable devices for holding them snuglyand securely in place when closed. For opening them, davits 24 may beprovided at frequent intervals upon the beam 16, from which blocks andtackles (indicated at 25) may be used for raising and lowering them.

The foregoing description comprehends a buoyant structure providedwithin its interior with an air-tight hopper over which may be closed anair-tight roof, the hopper being provided with trap or dumping doors foremptying it and overflow-pipes being provided for carrying off overflowof water from the air-tight structure to submerged points of dischargeunderneath the scow. In order to provide for the raising and lowering ofthe trap-doors 10 without permitting escape of air from the hopper, 1provide as a section of the chain 14 arod 26, which works in apacking-joint 27 in the roof. Within the air-tight portion of thestructure above described-that is to say, that portion of the structurewhich may be rendered air-tight by the closing of the roof-sections 18-1introduce the terminal or discharge pipe of the dredging-machine. Forthis purpose I preferably employ a U-shaped discharge-terminal 28,having its discharge end located near the middle portion of the hopperand in a level a little below the upper edge of the extensions of theside walls 2 thereof. This passing through one of the side plates 20 byan airtight joint communicates with the dischargehose 29 of thedredging-machine 30. (See Fig. II.) Upon the exterior of the plate 2O Ipreferably provide a ball-joint 31 for permitting freedom of movement ofthe con-v nected parts. Suitable means should also be provided forconnecting and disconnecting the pipe 29 from the pipe 28 in order tocouple different scows to the pipe 29 as often as required.

Around the discharge-terminal 28, within the hopper, I provide a seriesof vertical bafiiing-plates 32 and horizontal, preferably foraminous,baffling-plates 33, the whole constituting a rigid structure supportedas upon a framework 34, which may be built of angleiron or othersuitable metal. The object of the employment of the baffling-plates isto prevent the surging and churning about in the hopper of the liquiddischarged from the pipe 28 and to facilitate the precipitation of solidmatter from the liquid into the bottom of the hopper. As the level riseswithin the hopper the liquid overflows the extensions of the walls 2,discharges into the troughs outside of those walls, and is conductedthrough the pipes 22 into the water underneath the scow.

35 indicates a main pipe commu nicating,vas through cross-unions 36,with tapered perforated branch pipes 37, extending from end to endwithin the hopper. The main` pipe 35 communicates, as through an outsideflexible pipe connection 38, with a source of cleanwater supply.

In addition to the means above described compartment I provide suitablemeans, as

p above suggested, for disinfecting and purifying the foul airs or gasesthat may arise from the dredgings deposited in the hopper. For thispurpose I provide an air-flue 40, (see Fig. 1,) communicating with theinterior of the hopper above its water-level, as through one of the endplates 21. This flue affords the air-draft to a boiler-furnace 41 and anordinary furnace 42. The boiler communicates, as by a pipe 43, with anengine 44 at the opposite end of the scow, the engine being operativelyconnected with the fan of a blower, whose case is shown at 45. Theblower communicates, as through an elbow 46, with-the interior of thehopper through the adjacent end plate 21.

47 indicates a shut-off for the blower and 48 a shut-O for the pipe 40.y

In addition to the furnaces, as above described, which constitute, aswill hereinafter more fully appear, air-purifying apparatus, I mayemploy also or independently thereof a pipe 50, which may be lled withcharcoal and which communicates, as through a pipe 51, with a lime-tower52, provided within its interior with a mixer, of which the handle 53 isillustrated. The charcoal-box 50 and the lime-tower 52 are merelyillustrated anddescribed as examples of chemical means of disinfection.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The doors 10 androof-sections 18 being closed and the furnaces 41 and 42 fired, theapparatus is ready for use, which is effected by coupling the pipe 29toits terminal section 28 upon IOC IIO

the scot7 and setting the dredging-inachine in operation. The dredgingscommingled with water are discharged from the pipe 28 into the interiorof the hopper. As soon as they begin to accumulate in the hopper theytend to expel the air confined therein. This air may pass out throughthe pipe 4() and the pipe 50, or either of them if only one is employed.Assuming for the purpose of this description that both are employed, thedraft through the pipe 40 is utilized to promote combustion in thefurnaces 4l and 42. After steam is up in the boiler of the furnace 4lthe draft to that furnace is checked, and the main volume of air passesout through the furnace 42. It is, if necessary, in passing through thefurnace re tarded and is only discharged therefrom when thoroughlypuried'by fire. Such portion of the air as is forced out through thepipe 50 is chemically purified by the charcoal and lime or otherdisinfectant through which it is driven. Asthe level rises within thehopper above the framework 34 its movement is quieted by the presence ofthe bafiing-plates 32 and 33, and is still further quieted the higher itrises until rising to the top of the walls 2 it flows over the samecomparatively free from the solid material of the dredgngs. Thepurification of the air expelled by the rise of the level within thehopper continues as long as the level rises, without the necessity offurther attention than that of keeping the fire in the furnace 42 andthe disinfectants in proper condition to perform their functions. Whenfinally the hopper is filledythere still remains in the upper part ofthe receptacle, underneath the roof, a volume of unpuriiied air. Invorder to expel this, the blower within the case 45 is set in motion andall air is driven out through the furnace 42 or other purifyingapparatus. This final expulsion of air may be conducted while the scowis being transported to the place at which it is to be dumped. After thescow is filled it is disconnected from the pipe 29, which is tightlyclosed. Another scow is supplied in its place and the loaded scow istowed away to its destination for dumping. Upon reaching saiddestination the doors lO are opened and the contents dumped in theordinary manner.

From the foregoing description it will be perceived that during theentire operation of filling, transporting, and dumping the scow allportions of its contents are excluded from the air and that all the airwhich escapes from the scow is thoroughly purified and disinfectedbefore being discharged into the atmosphere.

After the scow is dumped a supply of clean, preferably salt, water isforced through the pipe 38 into the pipes 35 and 87. The pipes 37 areprovided with numerous orifices through which the water supplied throughthem is discharged in a cleansing shower throughout the interior of thehopper. After this final cleansing operation the roofsections 18 may beopened, if necessary, although in practice occasion would not oftennecessitate their being opened. Ordinarily it would be unnecessary tosupply water through the pipes 38, because the scow would be towed up tothe dredge and the operation repeated for an indefinite ,period withoutopening any part of it except the doors l0, which, being submerged, arewater-sealed from the outside atmosphere.

What I claim isl. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of abuoyant structure or scow provided with a deck, an air-tight compartmentor hopper within the scow rising above the level of the deck, lateraltroughs on the outside of the hopper, an air-tight covering over thetroughs and hopper, discharge-terminal communicating with the interiorof the hopper, means for discharging the hopper, means for establishingcommunication between the discharge-terminal and the hose of adredgingmachine, Vand pipes leading from thc troughs to pointsunderneath the water-line of the scow, substantially as set forth.

2. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scoI provided with a deck, an air-tight compartment orhopper within the scow rising above the level of the deck, lateraltroughs on the outside of the hopper, an air-tight covering over thetroughs and hopper, discharge-terminal communicating with the interiorof the hopper, baffling-plates surrounding the dischargeterminal, meansfor discharging the hopper, means for establishing communication betweenthe discharge-terminal and the hose of a dredging-machine, and pipesleading from the troughs to points underneath the waterline of the scow,substantially as set forth.

3. Means for disposing of dredgin gs, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scow provided with a deck, an airtight compartment orhopper within the scow rising above the level of the deck, lateraltroughs on the outside of the hopper, an air-tight covering over thetroughs and hopper, discharge-terminal communicating with the interiorof the hopper,`vertical and horizontal baliiing-plates surrounding thedischarge-terminal, means for discharging the hopper, means forestablishingcom munication between the'discharge-V terminal and the hoseof a dredging-machine, and pipes leading from the troughs to pointsunderneath the water-line of the scow, substantially as set forth.

4. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scow provided with an air-tight, covered compartment orhopper, means for discharging the hopper, means for establishingcommunication between the interior of the hopper and the discharge-pipeof a dredging-machine, a main water-supply pipe, and a number of branchpipes respectively tapered from the main pipe, said branch pipes beingprovided with orifices, and extending from end to end of the hopper,substantially as set forth.

ICO

IIO

5. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructurelor scoW provided with an air-tight hopper or compartment,means for discharging said compartment, means for connecting theinterior thereof with the discharge-pipe of a dredging-machine, a seriesof roof-sections covering'the compartment, means for closing saidsections, so as to form an air-tight roof over the compartment, andmeans for independently raising said roof-sections, substantially as setforth.

6. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scoW provided with an air-tight covered compartment orhopper, means for discharging the hopper, means for establishingcommunication between the interior of the hopper and the discharge-pipeof a dredging-machine, and airpurifying apparatus operatively communicating with the interior of the hopper, substantially as set forth.

7. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scow provided With an air-tight covered compartment orhopper, means for establishing communication between the interior of thehopper and the discharge-pipe of a dredging-machine, air# purifyingapparatus operatively communicating with the interior of the hopper, ablower also communicating with the interior of the hopper, and means fordriving the blower, substantially as set forth.

8. Means for disposing of dredgings, which consists of a buoyantstructure or scow provided With an air-tight covered compartment orhopper, means'for establishing communication between the interior of thehopper and the discharge-pipe of a dredging-machine, airpurifyingapparatus comprising a boiler and furnace, the furnace operativelycommunicating with the interior of the hopper so as to derive itsdraft-supply therefrom, a blower also communicating with the interior ofthe hopper and an engine adapted to drive the blower and operativelyconnected with the boiler, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of ail which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR GRAT ROSE.

lVitn esses:

WILBUR V. ROSE, GEORGE F. JUENEMANN.

